21 Famous Hip-Hop Rappers from Ohio
Ohio has a rich hip-hop culture, which includes some of the biggest names in rap. Rappers such as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Machine Gun Kelly and Trippie Redd all hail from The Buckeye State.
Ohio’s contributions to hip hop extend far beyond its most famous faces – countless producers, DJs, dance crews and graffiti artists have been instrumental in shaping the genre.
So why is Ohio so heavily represented in the hip-hop world?
Part of it might have something to do with Ohio’s industrial roots. Detroit and Cleveland were both major hubs for blues and jazz back in the ’50s, inspiring generations of African Americans to pick up guitars and start making music.
In the late ’70s and ’80s, hip-hop was gaining traction in New York City, and Ohio was not far behind. Local musicians began to merge the sound of jazz and blues with rap beats, creating a distinctively Ohio style of hip hop.
With all of that out of the way, let’s move onto our list of the top rappers of today from Ohio.
21 Rappers from Cleveland, Columbus and Ohio Areas
The state has also been home to some major music labels for decades now. With such deep roots in music production, there’s no surprise that many of today’s top rappers call Ohio their home.
Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio and is best known for his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day. He has since gone on to become an influential musician and actor.
Trippie Redd
Trippie Redd was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. He is known for his unique blend of hip-hop, rap, rock and R&B music that has garnered him a large following.
His most notable work includes the albums Life’s a Trip and A Love Letter to You 3.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony formed in Cleveland, Ohio back in 1991. The group consists of five members – Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Flesh-N-Bone.
The group has gone on to be one of the biggest names in hip hop, with hits such as “Tha Crossroads” and “1st of tha Month.”
DaBaby
DaBaby was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is best known for his debut album Baby on Baby. His breakthrough single “Suge” peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
He has since gained commercial success with collaborations from artists such as Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, and Lil Baby.
Machine Gun Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and began making music in 2006. He signed with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records in 2011 and has since released several albums, with his latest being Hotel Diablo.
His single “Bad Things” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Krayzie Bone
Krayzie Bone was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a founding member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and also has an established solo career.
His biggest hits include “Thug Mentality” and “Hard Time Hustlin’.”
Layzie Bone
Layzie Bone was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is another founding member of the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and also has a successful solo career.
He has released several albums, with his most recent being Thug By Nature.
Bizzy Bone
Bizzy Bone was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Cleveland. He is a founding member of the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and is known for his unique flow and style.
His biggest hits include “Look Into My Eyes” and “Change The World.”
Wish Bone
Wish Bone was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is another founding member of the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and also has an established solo career.
Some of his biggest songs include “If I Could Teach The World” and “Look Into My Eyes.”
Bow Wow
Bow Wow was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He began his career as a rapper at the age of 13 and quickly gained commercial success with hit singles such as “Bounce With Me” and “Let Me Hold You”.
He has since gone on to become an actor, appearing in films such as Roll Bounce and Lottery Ticket.
Flesh-N-Bone
Flesh-N-Bone was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is another founding member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, who are considered one of the most influential rap groups in hip hop history.
His biggest hits include “Crossroads” and “Thuggish Ruggish Bone.”
King Chip
King Chip was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He initially gained success as a member of the rap group The Foundation, but has since gone on to have a successful solo career.
His biggest singles include “Action Plan” and “Lookin Back.”
Stalley
Stalley was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio. He began his career as an artist affiliated with Maybach Music Group and has since released several mixtapes, albums, and EPs such as Lincoln Way Nights: Intelligent Trunk Music and Tell The Truth: Shame The Devil.
Tyler Joseph
Tyler Joseph was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He is the lead singer of the popular band Twenty One Pilots and has written several hit singles such as “Heathens” and “Stressed Out.”
Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a Grammy nominated producer who has worked with artists such as Nas, Dr. Dre, Talib Kweli, and 50 Cent.
He also produces his own albums including Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip.
Illogic
Illogic was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He is an acclaimed hip-hop artist and producer whose music is largely politically charged.
He has released several albums, with his most recent being Capture The Sun.
Ray Cash
Ray Cash was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is best known for his single “Bumpin’ My Music,” which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
His other popular singles include “Sex Appeal” and “Still Got Money.”
Blueprint
Blueprint was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He is an acclaimed hip-hop lyricist who has worked with artists such as J Dilla, Talib Kweli, Brother Ali and many more.
His critically acclaimed album 1988 produced fan favorite songs such as “The American Dream.”
Mood
Mood is a hip-hop group formed in Cincinnati, Ohio. Composed of members Slug and Sadat X, they are well known for their single “Ring Ring Ring” which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
They have since released several albums including Do You Like It…Do You Want It?
Ampichino
Ampichino was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He is an underground rapper who has collaborated with artists such as The Jacka and Lil Wyte.
His latest release is his album Da King of Diamonds Part 2 which features popular singles such as “Bender.”
Charles Hamilton
Charles Hamilton was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Harlem, New York. He is best known for his singles “Brooklyn Girls” and “New York Raining” which featured Rita Ora.
His other popular songs include “Corrected Slang” and “Brooklyn Girls (Remix).”
The Love and Hip Hop Coming Out of Ohio
Ohio has long been a hotbed for top-level hip-hop talent, with countless rap acts from the Buckeye State making their mark on the genre.
From Cleveland’s Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Cincinnati’s Danny Brown, Ohio has established itself as a major player in the rap game over the last few decades.
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